I set my goals for 2012 around New Year’s Eve. This year I made some rather big writing goals. These included: Indie publish three full-length novels, write short stories for four anthologies, and write posts for WG2E. July marks the (just over) half way mark of 2012.
Recently, I took some time to evaluate my goals and see which ones needed to be ramped up, which ones I have accomplished so far, and which ones may have fallen by the wayside.
Overall, I am on track. This is great. However, I still have a ways to go. I had told myself this was the make it or break it year for my writing career. For far too many years, I had put my writing on the back burner (way way on the back burner.) Everything took precedence over my goals. Naturally, my family still comes first. However, I had to shift around other responsibilities or let go of some or reduce others in order to fit in my 2012 writing goals. It was now or never.
I was determined to see if I could make it as a writer- and I was not getting any younger. The good news is that so far it looks like I am doing fine as a writer. My 2012 goals are pretty much on target. And if I keep up the work, I should be able to meet all of my goals by the end of the year.
What about your 2012 goals? How are you doing with your goals so far?
The Best of WG2E Wishes — Lois Lavrisa
Well done, Lois. I’m on track with my annual writing goals too.
Kiru- I think that is why we have goals- it is a benchmark for us to know which direction we plan to go. Of course flexibility in the goals helps because life does not always go in a straight line:)
I’m a goal person, too. I often set out a few each New Year, but this past January 1st, I only made one goal: go for it! In other words, focus on my writing and getting things published. Since January I’ve had one full-length novel and two short stories published. I’m set to have at least two more novels and a collection of short stories published by the end of the year. If I do that, I’ve reached my goal.
Congratulations on keeping on track. It can be difficult.
Diane- One big goal – I love your Go for it! Keep up the great work- it sounds like you are right on track:)
Wavin’ atchya, Lois!
For me, 2012 is all about Readers and Connecting with Them. Here’s the scoop:
http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/indie-epublishing-2012-the-year-of-the-reader-purple-cows-and-purple-horses-too
But…what I didn’t realize then and thankfully do now…is that it’s much more than Readers! In today’s multi-media world, it’s about Listeners (as in Audio Book Peeps), it’s about small screen (TV) and large screen (movie) audiences, it’s about gamers, comic con fans and more!
For that reason, I’m expanding my definition of “Readers” to include all formats for my stories. Because, as Bob Mayer says, it’s not about our “books”…it’s about our “stories.”
DD- wow there are many more “readers” out there (I didn’t even think of some of the ones that you had mentioned like comic con- but they all are “readers.”) And I will always believe as you do, and as Bob does as well- that it is the the story that counts.
Can you believe how fast January 2012 has vanished in the rear-view mirror? We’re racing towards January 2013 in Bugatti Veyron with the Stig at the wheel, and I’m wondering how I missed all of the scenery in-between! I have a truck-load of work to do, but I’m gonna get there… maybe even on time
Greg- yes life seems to move a lightening speed. I love having goals, but have to keep myself in check to remember to enjoy the journey as well.
Another Top Gear fan!! Woot!
I don’t think I actually had a goal for the year. Maybe to get more books out there and get more readers. So far this year, I have got my second ebook (long short story) out there, and waiting for edits for the third. I want to get more readers in the second half of this year, and will be doing that by having my romance eseries published starting next month, being involved in an anthology with other authors and epublishing more of my own YA stories. Next year, my goal will be to try and get involved with more authors in more anthologies, hopefully the WG2E Indie ones. Get my long tail sales up and running by mentioning all my ebooks in each book.
Julie- until this year I really never had huge writing goals besides small ones like attend the monthly writers critique group meetings, review my peers, write on my novel when I could … Between my four children, work, etc- writing was always left in a corner. Yet writing is my passion- storytelling is who I am. Also, I turned 50 last year- and maybe that was my wake up call. I had to see if I could make it as a full time writer. So I went full steam ahead. Luckily, so far it is going great. But setting my goals really helped focus me:)
Last December I decided 2012 would be the year to dedicate to writing. Like you, Lois, so many other things got in the way over the years and my writing was on the back burner. I set a goal for this year to publish 4 books. So far Three Days in Seattle came out in February, The Scent of Lies came out in June, The Heart of Lies will be out in September, and I plan to have a Christmas book out by Thanksgiving.
Someone asked me the other day how I was getting the books out so quickly, and I replied what I think I’ve heard on this blog, “Butt in the chair, fingers on the keyboard.” I’ve set a goal to do at least 2,000 words per day. Some days it turns out to be only 1500, other days 3000, but they keep coming.
Someone wise once said, “A goal without a deadline is only a dream.” So true.
Debra- Congratulations on all of your novels ( I have read your books- they are super!!) and thank for this quote I will put it next to my writing area “A goal without a deadline is only a dream.”
One of my goals for this year was to get my first manuscript out. I’m releasing it tomorrow! It was a lot more work than what I thought it would be. The writing of it now seems to have been the easy part as compared to getting up to speed with all the social media, platform building, etc. But the good reviews I’m getting are making it worthwhile. Your site has been a tremendous help. It was the first site I came across in my journey to publishing. Thanks–I really couldn’t have met that goal without you!
Janice- huge congratulations to you! Please let us know how your book does- I am sure it will do fantastic! Way to go:)
I set out to do one book a year, to be attainable and not feel like a failure. But this year I will be publishing 2 novels. 1 was published in May and is selling well, the other should be out next month.
Now, spurred on by DD success with it, I am looking into narrating my own books and putting them through ACX. I already have most of the stuff needed to do this and I narrated my 1st book as a series of podcasts so I have some experience with it. That’s my goal anyway
Alison- wow- wonderful! Way to go:) And I love the idea of narrating your own books as well:)
I had hoped to have the last of my YA trilogy done — not even close!
On the other hand, I’ve nearly finished writing a short story and will publish another which I hadn’t anticipated. I’m teaching a lot more than I had expected which is good and bad — it’s fun, but it takes time away from my writing.
Goals — I’ve made them. I’m somehow not keeping them. The story of my life. But I’m working hard, does that count?
Merry- working hard does count- of course! Goals should be flexible because life constantly changes. It is all about doing what is best for you:)
Great post that speaks to my heart. Last year I learned something huge about myself and setting writing goals: if I’m every going to accomplish my dreams, I need to learn to start saying “No.” Before, I was always trying to please everyone, and at the end of each day, I found I got very little done toward my writing goals because I was so busy doing everything for everyone else. When I finally began to say no to certain demands on my time, I began crankin’ out those pages! (Here’s the scoop on how I did it: http://rileyjford.com/blog/secret-success-saying-no). Now I’ve got two novels under my belt, one that was just e-published, thanks to all the advice I’ve learned at WG2E – yaay!
Riley- yes they are two little letters that can change your life in a big way N and O. Being a people pleaser I said yes to every volunteer job, and took on a lot on top of a paid job (adjunct at a local college) and taking care of four children etc… This year (To meet my writing goals) I now say “That sounds wonderful- but my commitments this year are full.” Congratulations on the two novels under your belt!!!
Oh and as far as what you wrote Riley- “Now I’ve got two novels under my belt, one that was just e-published, thanks to all the advice I’ve learned at WG2E – yaay!” A big thanks to DD for having this incredible website and for allowing me to be on such a great team of WG2E contributors. All of you out there in WG2E land are terrific:)
I’m behind. ugh! I’m with Riley. I have to learn to say “no” more often. I’m frustrated with myself for not being ready to publish my first book as I wanted. I’ll still get it done, it’ll just be later than I wanted. I’m concentrating on getting all the things done that I promised to others so I can concentrate on me and my work the rest of the year. I might get back on track with the rest of the goals with any luck.
Rhonda- it’s sounds like you know what to do to meet your goals:) Best of luck!
Great post, Lois! I’ve managed to accomplish two of my goals (I published my first two books ever in the first half of the year!), and now I’m tackling my other major goal, which is to finish a rough draft of my next book by December. I’ve fallen a little off track on that one, but I can still make it with some concerted effort. Thanks for the reminder to check up on goal progress at the midpoint of the year!
Dana- whoa- great job and congratulations on publishing your first two books! As far as falling a little off track- that happened to me this summer as well with kids home, family visits etc- but I am ready to catch up when the kids are all tucked back at school by the end of August.
Hi Lois, great post and wonderful reminder to check and see if we are on track. Many times I make goals and then forget about them…forever. ha! Not good. I was determined to release four books this year. I am certain 3 of those 4 will be released. I will finish the fourth book but that will be handed over to my editor and will not be released until 2013. I have long term goals like hitting the USA Today and NY Times Bestseller list and then I also like to set daily goals of writing 1,000 words a day. I think the important thing is to use the goals as motivation and not to think of yourself as a failure if you don’t hit every goal, whether long term or short term. Congratulations to everyone who has just succeeded in publishing their first book(s)! Yay! And good job, Lois, on keeping your writing life and family life balanced. That is difficult to do when the kids are small and out of school!
Theresa- congratulations! Getting 3 our of 4 books published is huge. Gosh, even getting one is super! And thank you for your comments, this hit home with me “I think the important thing is to use the goals as motivation and not to think of yourself as a failure if you don’t hit every goal, whether long term or short term. “
Yep, I’m on track for 2012. This is my first year of indie publishing and I believe things are progressing at a good pace. I made a production schedule using Google calendar and realized that by next August I should have 10 books out! This is as me + a pen name. I do have time scheduled for research, planning, writing, revising, etc. so we’ll see how it goes and if the time I scheduled is realistic for what needs to be done.
Christina – Like you this is my first year of indie publishing. Congratulations on all of your goals- wow- ten books??? Holy cow:) Keep us posted on your progress:)